So. What is it that causes this obsession we have with our favorite teams and players? What is it that makes a grown man act like a complete fool painting his face or removing his shirt in sub-zero weather in a mis-guided attempt to support his favorite team? What is the allure to those 20,000 women Wilt claims, or the many who claim to have fathered a mini MJ? What is it that can turn an accountant or a doctor or a lawyer into a complete idiot on game day?

Simple. As human beings we are the only species known that truly expresses emotion. As far we we know, we are the only species capable of feeling true emotion and sports are the outlet we fans choose to express such, as wearing your heart on your sleeve isn't generally accepted in everyday life. Getting too emotional with co-workers or employees will be seen as a sign of weakness. Expressing emotions to your lover can often be misconstrued as a sign of weakness and prove to be a turnoff. Afterall, who wants a mate they feel is emotionally weak? Yet, even in this microwave society, well all have emotions that need to be let out in one form or another.

Enter sports. It doesn't matter who you are, what your profession, intellect, or personal conflicts, you can find a common bond with others in sport fandom. Intovert or extrovert, timid or gregarious, it doesn't matter. You can let it all loose when it comes to supporting your favorite team. That's part of the beauty of sports. A big part, I believe. 

Sports are like that elusive lover we really want but is just out of reach. We hope that rooting harder will result in wins and fool ourselves into thinking that wearing a jersey on game day had some part in the outcome. We try hard, but in the end it really had no deciding factor in the outcome. After a loss you just hope that picture of you in a wild outfit doesn't end up on the internet for everyone to laugh at.